Peacocks

[house-elf]

Hi, I am looking to get some chickens but after looking at the vast array of breeds, I am now not sure what I would like.

 

I am only looking to get 2-3 hens, and have two young children ages 2 and 4 years.

 

I like the derbyshire redcap, miss pepperpot and the gingernut ranger, but can anyone tell me if these are good chickens for the first timer, or can you recommend any ????

 

Thanks

[Budgies]

Hi House Elf, welcome aboard!!

 

The breeds you mention are a mix of pure breeds (the redcap) and hybrid hens (gingernut and pepperpot).

 

Many people on this forum do mix the two very successfully, but it is worth being aware that as hybrids are vaccinated during a programme of adding vaccine to their water or spraying them as chicks, it is possible that they may carry an illness (but not show symptoms of it) which they can then pass on to a pure breed.

 

I've asked lots of questions about how friendly and tame people's hens are on this forum and a lot of it seems to come down to regular handling.

 

I personally only have experience of owning two Gingernut Rangers and they were chalk and cheese! One loved her cuddles and being picked up and would sit very still when stroked by a child - I'm sure she knew to be careful!! The other would squeal and squawk and insist she was being killed, despite being handled daily!

 

By the end, the squawker would fall asleep in my arms as I stroked her comb, but she would still do the occasional flap and scream!!

 

I would think any of the above are ideal for what you want and hopefully there will be others along to share their preferences too!

[Electricbarbarella]

Hi, I think any hybrids are good for a first timer as they lay lots and are hardy.

When I got my girls last year I got

Black rock - (MIss pepperpot)

2 Brown Isa - (Gingernut ranger)

2 Amber Star

and a light sussex hybrid.

They are all great birds and very easy to care for.

I would advise getting more housing than you need as it is very addictive.

I now have 3 ex batts as well, and 7 bantams eggs under a broody hen.

My children were the same age as yours when we got the girls last year, they love them and are now very popular as everybody wants to come and see the chooks.

Other really pretty hybnrids are bluebelles and daisy belles.

Bantams are gorgeous but I dont think lay very much and tend to go broody, although great childrens pets from everything I have read (which is a lot ), Will have to wait and see in a few weeks .

Anyway whatever you decide, welcome and enjoy, everyone here is always good to answer questions and help out.

[Sarahw12]

Some hybrid hens do retain some of the personality characteristics of the breeds they have been bred from- for instance I've had 2 White Stars and they've both been very wary of humans. When I looked into it, I learned that they are bred from leghorns, which are difficult to tame.

 

Having said that, with persistence, the one I have now is very handlable!

 

Hybrids are often regarded as "much of a muchness" in temprament, but I don't think that's absolutely the case. Most hybrids will lay pretty well, so if you want hens the children can really enjoy, you should base your choice more on the "base" breed's temprament then on the number of eggs it's expected to lay.

 

...that's only personal opinion/experience though- I'm happy to be contradicted!

[katieadams]

We have a bluebelle, a gold star, and a amber star and they're all perfect for us and our two girls (2 and nearly 4), lovely nature and well behaved, and since Beaky and Butterfly have started laying we've had tasty eggs reliably too!